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Local Business Owners Already Feeling Effects Of Gustav Save Email Print
Posted: 8:35 PM Aug 27, 2008
Last Updated: 8:03 AM Aug 28, 2008


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Last week, Tropical Storm Fay put a damper on many visitors’ plans to come to Panama City Beach. Now, it looks like Gustav could do the same thing.

Local business owners say they're already taking a hit from the storm.

Tropical Storm Gustav's arrival in the Gulf of Mexico is not expected until Saturday, with landfall sometime Monday. But, the Panama City Beach Tourism industry is already feeling its effects.

"Labor Day weekend is traditionally the end of the summer for all of the beach and it's a huge weekend for us. And, to have it interrupted by a storm event is never a good thing. It's a potential huge loss in revenue," said Philip Colvin, Holiday Inn Sunspree marketing director.

Colvin says around 10 people have already canceled their weekend reservations at the Sunspree. This comes just a week after they took a hit from Tropical Storm Fay.

"Unfortunately, Fay was just a big rain that cost us a lot of money. It didn't really do anything other then we had a lot of people cancel and change their reservations to a different time," said Colvin.

By the Sea Resorts suffered a similar loss; 43 people canceled because of Fay. Another 23 have canceled reservations this week due to Gustav.

Jeff Pottgether and his wife recently moved to Panama City Beach from Chicago. Gustav will most likely be the first big storm they face.

"She's a little nervous. We've never been through it before," said Pottgether.

They're concerned the storm could cause flooding, but they have a plan.

"That's one good thing we did get. We've got renters insurance," added Pottgether.

For now, the waters remain somewhat calm and yellow flags are flying.

However, over the next few days, Gustav could significantly change that, meaning more visitors could change their weekend plans.

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Posted by: Robin Location: Panama City on Aug 28, 2008 at 01:54 PM
Ok, I have lived here for over 22 years and we are already prepared for any hurricane storms. Why isn't the rest of Florida, Alabama, Lousiana and Mississippi. It's not like these Tropical Storms and Hurricanes are surprises, this is the season for them. Come on people, get serious, stop worrying so much and just prepare, if your that affraid, head up North or East. The media makes more of a fuss on these than they really need to be. If people, after hearing it for weeks, seeing it more than once, or even living through one, isn't ready and prepared for them by now, then they deserve anything that happens to them. And if the tourist think they are not harmful, then count them in the STUPID People. Don't act frantic, stay focused, do what all you can do to save yourselves, your family, your pets and home, then stay alive. That is what the word "SURVIVAL" was created for. It's only God's test to see what we can handle and to put things back in order, that we seem to make out of order.

Posted by: Kane Location: PCB on Aug 28, 2008 at 11:31 AM
I understand being prepared, but it's because people loose their minds and get scared that our prices shoot up and we ourselves out the insurance companies, oil companies, food prices and all other prices to shoot up. The storm is days away, the storm's course will change 4 more times before it makes landfall..calm down, keep your heads and stop allowing these companies to feed off YOUR FEARS!!!

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